The Ultimate Kitchen

How to build a kitchen from scratch?

Measuring the Ultimate KitchenIf you were designing a kitchen from scratch, where would you start? More than a room, the kitchen is the heart of a home, and a workshop where culinary creativity takes flight. The more precise you are with your design, the more functional and inviting your kitchen will be. No matter how much space you have,, the working area should be fairly compact —about 10 to 20 square meters, with at least 2,5 square meters of counter space.

The Three-Point PlanYour kitchen’s three primary areas — the sink, the stove and the fridge — should be close neighbours, with about a meter between them — enough space so you won’t bang into an open dishwasher while reaching for the oven but not so much you’ll have to walk across the room to put a pan under the faucet.

The more precise you are with your design, the more functional and inviting your kitchen will be. (c) bulthaup.com

Calculate Your Work SurfacesFor comfortable prepping, you’ll want at least 60 centimeters on one side of the sink and 45 centimeters on the other. Ideally, the sink should live between the refrigerator and the stove, following the natural sequence of food preparation.You’ll need space around the stove, too, so that you can have ingredients handy to be added as you need them and keep cooking tools within easy reach. Plan on 30 centimeters on one side and 60 on the other.

The sink, the stove and the fridge — should be close neighbours, with about a meter between them. (c) hepburndesigns.com

Optimize Your Storage Space
Keep like things together: dishes near the sink and dishwasher; cooking utensils next to the stove; trash and garbage cans near the food prep area. You can never have too much storage, so add more wherever you can. Use narrow spaces near the floor for drawers to store linens, trays, or pet supplies. Use cabinets closer to the ceiling and over the refrigerator for rarely used items. Slender spaces can be used to shelve. Take advantage of cabinet accessories such as built-in trash bins, plate and stemware racks, door organizers and blind corner systems to streamline and maximize storage. And keep in mind that shelves should be at least 2,5 centimeters thick.

You can never have too much storage, so add more wherever you can. (c) leicht.com